The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-07-23
A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Two Killed and Three Wounded by the
Explosion of Steam Thresher

ISplUSlOu Ol Il Sltl,H uTtSutl
On Cecil County Farm--Fuil Particulars
Coroner. Inquest-Nerdict of the Jury.
This community has not been more
startled since the explosion at Marley
Mills than by the intelligence received
here shortly after two o'clnck on Wed
ncSday afterLoO that the boiler of a steam
thresher belonging to the Bowen Bros,
verely iniuring several others 1t was
stated that the accident occurred on the
farm of Mr.. Edward Stroud which is
situated near the Newark and E!kton
road, about thnee miles from this place.
Part of the farm is in Maryland and part
in Delaware. Coroner Litzcnberg started
for the scene taking with him DR.. How
ard Bratton.
The accident occurred about half-past
one o'clack. Mr.. Bowen who lives in
the neighborhood had set up his steam
thresher at noon in field right back of
Stroud's barn for the purpose of thresh-
ing the latter's wheat. The engine had
been use'l on three or four farms before
this season and was in use Tuesday on
Mr.. Perkins Walton's farm near the
Stroud place. Mr.. Bowen took his en-
Wednesday morning. After arriving at
Mr.. Stroud's he filed the boiler and after
firing up went to dinner. lie was absent
only about twenty minutes and returning
found 90 pounds of steam. There was so
pounds of steam when they started. He
looked afterwards and there was %
pounds. This was only a few seconds
before the explosion. Mr.. Bowen had
his arm resting on the wheel of the en-
CINE at the time. When the boiler ex-
| ploded the engine and boiler rushed for
wards between 80 and 100 feet passing the
thresher with terrific force. At the time
of the explosion Mr.. Edward Stroud was
standing by the thresher showing a six
teen year old colored lad named Walter
| w. Crawford how to hold the bag which
received the grain. Frank Sterling son
of James Sterling was measuring the
| grain and standing with the other two
Mr.. Stroud was struck by the engine
| in its terrible rush and hurled aside dying
instantly. His head and breast were
badly crushed, and his jaw and neck were
| broken. The colored boy was also struck
and instantly killed. His head and face
were cut open almost the entire length;
| his left arm and leg were each broken
and his left side was crushed. A horse
which was used in removing the straw
from the thresher was struck and instantly
| killed. Young Sterling it is thought was
struck by the belt Off the governor. He
was leaning over at the time and was
knocked under the thresher. One of his
hips was badly bruised as well as his head
and other parts of the body but he was
not seriously injured.
Edward Bowen, Lewis l.. PritcEett and
| Frank r. Stroud, son of Edward Stroud
were standing by the engine at the time
it exploded, the engineer having his arm
on one of the wheels. He strange to say,
| (Mr. B)wep) was not injured while both of
the others were scalded and otherwise in
! jured. The physicians present gave their
| attentions to these wounded men. Mr..
Pritchett who formerly resided in this
town and married Miss Molly Mahan of
nIa in
J. Walsh's store, Wilmington, and Was
visiting the Stroud's. Frank II. Stroud
| married Miss Katie Devou, daughter of
| DR.. |. l.. Devon formerly of this town,
but now of Wilmington. He resides in a
cottage fronting his fathers place on
which he was employed He was slightly
scalded on his body and has an ugly cash
on his lower jaw which he suffered from
being hurled to the ground by the force
of the steam. He was able to be out the
same evening. Pritchett is severely
scalded on his stomach in the groin and
on one of his thighs.
The end of the boiler went IA different
direction from the engine, and WAS found
800 feet away to the westward. lu eS-
Gaping the steam took the course of the
| boiler head and fanlike area of grass,
about 80 feet in diameter was scalded
into crumpled yellowish tufts \ large
| two-horse farm wagon was thrown 200
| feet, and parts of it scattered around.
| Tie engine missed the thresher by two
| -,
complete wreck.
lewis Crothers and James Sterling,
who were acting as feeders, Were not in
jured. Undertaken Wesley B. Hart of
| Newark took charge of the remains
Those of Mr.. Str Jud was taken to his home
i Inc boys remains We're taken to the
home of his grandmother who lives in A
SIN all house on the road from Stanton to
Christana. DR.. J. II. lamar of Elktun
made his remains more presentable by
sewing up the g ashes in his face and head.
Edward Stroud was about sc years old,
and prosperous farmer. He leaves
wife and six children, three of whom are
married. Three sons, two of them grown,
and the other 1G years old, helped to
work the farm.
| Coroner Litzenberg summoned the
following jury of inquest over the re-
mains of the unfortunate man and boy:
Thomas Drennen, foreman; DR.. George
Morrow, DR.. Howard Bratton, w. w.
Burnley, Edward Taylor, John Simpson,
James Sterling, John Frazer, Nelson
Boulder, Rufus Oldham and William
Smith. After the testimony of Lewis
Crothers, James Sterling and Henry
Briley, the eye witnesses, and Drs. How
ard Bratton and w. G.. Kollock had been
taken the inquest was adjourned until
the following morning to hear the testi-
mony of machinists who were to examine
the boiler.
The jury reassembled at 40 Thursday
morning in Mr.. Thomas Drennen's office.
Mr.. George McQuilkin, proprietor of the
Elkton machine works, was called. He
testified that he had visited the wreck
that morning. From the distance that
the engine was blown and the condition
of it, he should judge that there was
high pressure OF steam for so old a boiler.
The boiler had been in use for 1G years.
He had, however, known boilers to be
| uSed for 80 wears The LENGTH of time